Latest reports suggest that Tottenham Hotspur are set to take advantage of Newcastle United’s limited bargaining power by making an improved offer to OGC Nice for Alassane Plea. The 21-year-old striker is on Rafael Benitez’s summer shortlist but the Spanish boss is not expected to meet the Ligue 1 outfit’s £27m valuation.
United could offer only £20m, leaving the door wide open for interested outfits to make a swoop. Not only will Spurs be able to offer more money, Plea will also be promised Champions League football, unlike Newcastle who has just returned to Premier League football and had finished in the 10th spot last term.
The problem with the Tyneside outfit is its hesitation to spend the necessary amounts to get talented players. Mike Ashley has offered Benitez almost no financial backing with his interests lined up in monetary gain rather than the betterment of the football club.
For now, he has the services of a highly decorated coach but who knows when the Spaniard will quit on the constant power struggle and move on to more lucrative prospects of other European sides.
Newcastle are in dire need of a competent striker with Dwight Gayle managing just 6 goals this past season. The Englishman helped the side earn promotion to the top-flight with a miraculous form of 23 goals in 34 games in the 2016/17 season.
With Islam Slimani also hitting up bricks on his short loan spell last term, Benitez will have to make the necessary additions if he is to improve or even replicate previous season’s top-flight performances.
Here are a few players he should consider.
Nicolai Jorgensen
The Danish international plies his trade for Dutch outfit Feyenoord and had 13 goals and 2 assists registered in the previous season. He appeared for his country in the 2018 FIFA World Cup and contributed with a single assist.
The 27-year-old was one of Benitez’s top targets in the January window but even then United could not scour up the necessary funds to get him. He is worth around £20m according to Feyenoord and United can offer the same deal for Jorgensen as they did for Plea.
Danny Ings
His Liverpool career is close to being over with players like Roberto Firmino and Dominic Solanke ahead of him in the pecking order. The 25-year-old has expressed his wishes to leave and has been linked with a move to St James’ Park.
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Moussa Marega
Marega is a prime attacking talent who is on the shortlist of plenty of European outfits and can be a good coup for the Tyneside club.
